Propeller guard



Nov. l, 1938. J, R, BENSON 2,135,162

PROPELLER GUARD Filed Jan. 17, 1938 v -Patented Nov. 1, 1938 PATENT OFFICE rnorELLEa conan John R. Benson,

East St. Louis, Ill.

Appucaunn January 17, 193s, serial No. 185,391

iClaims.

'Ihis invention relates to propellery guards, and has special reference to guards for propellers of outboard motors or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved guard for use in protecting propellers from injury by any submerged materials or substance, such as rocks and stones, or logs and trees, and also to prevent interference with lines used in trolling or other ilshing activities.

Another object of the invention is to provide a guard for outboard motor propellers and the like that will prevent vegetation, such as grasses and weeds and the like, from becoming entangled with the propeller and causing delays, and perhaps damage and injury to the propellers.

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being made to the annexed drawing, in which- Flg. 1 is a rear elevation of a propeller having my invention mounted to guard and protect the Same.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the propeller protected by my improved guard.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation.

For convenience of illustration, my invention is shown applied as a guard for the propeller of an outboard motor of known construction and including a tube I for the propeller drive shaft, an exhaust tube 2 and an oil line tube 3. A flange or plate 4 is attached to the lower ends of said tubes and holds them in rigid relationship. The propeller 5 is driven by gearing within a housing 6 operated by the usual propeller drive shaft enclosed within the tube I. The skeg 1 curves downwardly and rearwardly from integral connection with the housing 6 and terminates substantially below the lowest position of the propeller 5, as is well known.

My invention comprises a metallic frame including an approximately circular member 8 bent to provide abutting portions 9 adapted to abut against the side edges of the ange 4, and overlapping end portions I0 adapted to seat upon the'ilange l; and a frame member comprising a curved portion II having its lower and rear end attached to the frame member 8, a portion I2 seating against the front of the housing 6, and a rebent portion I3 embracing the front portion of the flange 4. The curved portion .I I is formed with a. slot I4 through which the skeg 1 extends, the rear edge of said skeg I preferably engaging one end of the slot.

Detachable fasteners I5 passing through the ends III and the upper end of the rebent portion I3, in cooperation with the engagement between the skeg 1 and the frame member Il, hold the frame in rigid position with respect to the propeller 5 and the housing 6. The frame member 8 extends rearwardly beyond the propeller 5 and functions to prevent trolling lines, or vegetation and the like, from becoming entangled with the propeller.

A section of screen I6 or equivalent material is placed on the inside of the frame comprising the member 8 and the cooperating member II, I2, and is held clamped against the front end of the housing 6. This section of screen material or the like is welded or otherwise attached to the frame members and is slotted or pressed to permit; the skeg 1 to extend through the slot I4 to provide an interlocking connection.

This device may be made and assembled in connection with the propeller devices of familiar types of outboard motors and, in use, has been found eminently satisfactory in protecting the propeller and also in preventing trolling lines and the like from becoming entangled with and severed by the propeller. The device may be manufactured and assembled economically and attains all of its intended objects and purposes eciently an satisfactorily. The invention may be varied Within the scope of equivalent limits without departure from the natureand principle thereof.

l. In an outboard-motor having a submersible propeller, means for supporting the propeller, and a rigid element in connection with said means above the propeller; an annular frame member engaging the rear of said means, a frame element engaging the front of said means and attached to said frame member below the propeller, detachable devices holding said frame member and said element in engagement with said means, and a screen device enclosing the sides and front of said propeller and attached to said frame member and said frame element.

2. In an outboard-motor boat propeller having a housing-for supporting the propeller, mechanism for rotating the propeller, a skeg rigid with the housing and extending downwardly to a plane below the propeller, and an element rigid with the housing above the propeller; a frame member engaging said element and extending rearwardly beyond and downwardly below the propeller, a frame element having its upper end engaging said first named element and its lower end attached to said frame member below the propeller and having a slot therein through which said skeg extends and holds said element rigid, and a screen enclosing the front and sides of said housing and said propeller and attached to said frame member and said element, preventing vegetation and troll fishing lines from being caught by the propeller and leaving said propeller free to rotate. e 3. In an outboard motor submersible propeller device including a housing for enclosing mechanism to rotate a propeller, a propeller supported at the rear of said housing, and a flange rigid with said housing above said propeller; a frame member extending rearwardly beyond and downwardly below said propeller and having its upper portion engaging said ilange, a frame element having a slot therein through which a portion of said housing extends and being attached at its lower end to said frame member and at its upper end to said flange, means detachably holding said frame member and said element in engagement with said ilange, and a screen device enclosing the front and sides of said housing and said propeller and extending between said frame element and said housing and being attached to said frame member and said element.

4. In outboard submersible propeller mechanism including a support, a housing attached to and extending downwardly fromsaid support, a ange extending rearwardly and. laterally beyond said housing, a propeller rotatively supported at the rear of said housing, and a rearwardly curved part extending\downwardly from said housing below said propeller; an open and unobstructed frame engaging said flange and being of larger diameter than the diameter of said propeller and extending rearwardly beyond said propeller, a connection having its upper end engaging the front of said ilange and its lower end extending rearwardly and rigidly engaging said housing and also being rigidly attached to said frame, means detachably holding said frame member and said element in engagement with ysaid flange, and a screen section rigidly attached to said frame and forming a screen enclosure within which said propeller rotates freely and which is open toward the rear.

JOHN R. BENSON. 

